Verizon: R.I.P. Unlimited Data

Verizon today confirmed weeks of rumors, stating that as of this Thursday, July 7th, unlimited data plans will be no more. Unless, of course, you’re an existing Verizon customer with an unlimited data plan. You folks get to keep yours, even if you upgrade to a new phone. But new customers — including newbies who sign up for the Verizon iPhone — are pretty much screwed.

Also, if you go over your data limit, you’ll owe Verizon $10 for every gigabyte. Verizon is also changing the LTE mobile hotspot service, which until now has been a free-for-all, regardless of how much it’s used. Starting on Thursday, current mobile hotpsot users must pay $30 a month to keep their unlimited data usage, while new LTE customers will be charged $20 for 2GB of mobile hotspot service.

Even though this has been a long time coming… Even though AT&T and T-Mobile have already switched off their unlimited data plans… Even though it’s pretty much a sign of the times…

This sucks. And I can’t help wondering how it will change the amount of time smartphone users spend online. Will noobs to the smartphone game shun their shiny new phones in favor of laptops, where unlimited Internet is still the norm? Or will they just suck it up when the bill arrives for their new data charges?

Unathletic, uncoordinated tall man with endless creativity stampeding through his overactive brain. Comes with beard, wife, and two miniature humans. Novelist. General blogger and main Gaming Geek for ForeverGeek. Lead Blogger, Apple Gazette.

Comments

My biggest concern is what this trend will do for emergent cloud computing, remote storage, digital media and e-commerce in general. In a post-manufacturing economy like in the US, the “other shoe to drop” may be a stifling of digital communication industries by an oligopoly of carriers working to maximize their short-term profits.